The word " Panama " has various origins. According to history and the native indian language it means " abundance of butterflies ". Other popular interpretations are " abundance of fish " and the very popular " Panama Hat ". Because of its geographical position, Panama has been inhabited by people of many different cultures. Panama has been a crossroad since way before the Spanish conquest, to the Gold Rush and finally the construction of one of the most important waterways in the World: The Panama Canal.
Butterflies start to come out in May.
There are hundreds of different species of butterflies to be found in our country. There are many migrating butterflies in Panamá such as the sulphurs in the subfamily Coliadinae (Pieridae) that are generally large yellow or orange butterflies. In Panama , females lay eggs on host plants in the bean family Leguminosae or in the Bignoniaceae.
PAPILIONIDAE |
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PAPILIONINAE |
Genus Papilio |
Papilio thoas nealces |
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Papilio ascolius zolates |
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Eurytides |
Euritides ilus |
PIERIDAE |
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DISMORPHINAE |
Patia |
Patia orise sororna |
PIERINAE |
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Archonias |
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Archonias tereas apposimata |
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Itaballia |
Itaballia pandosia kicaha |
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Ascia |
Ascia monuste |
COLIADINAE |
Aphrissa |
Aphrissa statira |
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Eurema |
Eurema daira |
NYMPHALIDAE |
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CHARAXINAE |
Prepona |
Prepona omphale octavia |
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Archaeoprepona |
Archaeoprepona camilla |
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Consul |
Consul panariste jansoni |
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Memphis |
Memphis eurypyle confusa |
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Memphis ryphea ryphea (U) |
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Memphis chrysophana (U) |
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Memphis aureola |
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Memphis chaeronea indigotica |
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Memphis centralis |
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Memphis xenocles |
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Memphis oenomais |
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Memphis artacaena |
APATURINAE |
Doxocopa |
Doxocopa clothilda |
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Doxocopa cherubina |
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Doxocopa cyane |
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Doxocopa laure |
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Doxocopa plesaurina |
NYNPHALINAE |
Historis |
Historis acheronta |
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Hmadryas |
Hmadryas februa ferentina |
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Hmadryas ipthime ipthime |
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Hmadryas amphinome mexicana |
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Hmadryas laodamiasaurites |
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Myscelia |
Myscelia leucocyana smalli |
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Dynamine |
Dynamine thalassina (R) |
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Marpesia |
Marpesia iole (U) |
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Eunica |
Eunica venusia |
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Eunica excelsa |
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Pyrrhogyra |
Pyrrhogyra crameri |
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Catonephele |
Catonephele mexicana |
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Catonephele numilia esite |
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Callicore |
Callicore lyca aerias |
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Adelpha |
Adelpha zalmona sophax |
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Adelpha boreas opheltes |
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Adelpha cocala lorzae |
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Adelpha lerna aeolia |
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Adelpha naxia |
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Adelpha celerio |
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Siproeta |
Siproeta stelenes biplagiata |
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Anartia |
Anartia fatima |
HELICONIINAE |
Philaetria |
Philaetria dido |
MELITAEINAE |
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MELITAEINI |
Chlosyne |
Chlosyne narva |
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Chlosyne lacinia |
PHYCIODINI |
Eresia |
Eresia poecilina |
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Janatella |
Janatella leucodesma |
ITHOMIINAE |
Scada |
Scada zibia xanthina |
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Hyposcada |
Hyposcada virginiana evanides |
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Oleria |
Oleria zelica pagasa |
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Oleria paula |
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Greta |
Greta Nero |
MORPHINAE |
Morpho |
Morpho theseus aguarius |
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Morpho amathonte |
BRASSOLINAE |
Dynastor |
Dynastor darius stygianus |
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Opsiphanes |
Opsiphanes invirae cuspidatus |
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Catoblepia |
Catoblepia xanthicles xanthicles |
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Eriphanis |
Eriphanis polyxeba lycomedon |
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Caligo |
Caligo eurilochus sulanus |
SATYRINAE |
Taygetis |
Taygetis virgilia rufomarginata |
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Taygetis celia keneza |
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Taygetis salvini |
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Eutychia |
Eutychia insolata |
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Chloreuptychia |
Chloreuptychia arnaea |
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Megeuptychia |
Megeuptychia antonoe |
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Cissia |
Cissia usitata |
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Cissia terrestris |
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Cissia alcinoe |
All the species listed above occurs from sea level to 1600m on the Pacific and Atlantic side (both slops) of Costa Rica , Central America . All the information have been taken from the book “The Butterflies of Costa Rica” by Philips J. DeVries, 1987, Vol. I and II, Princeton University Press. |
Butterflies